This is part of a series of articles about student-athletes’ pre-game rituals. Read them all here.
Gunnar Gleasman ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.
“When we’re playing in the afternoon or a night game,” said Gunnar Gleasman, a sophomore hockey player from Colorado, “I like to wake up, and the first thing I do is go for a walk. While I’m on my walk, I’ll listen to some country music. Then, I’ll call my parents during my walk. Once I’m back, I’ll Normatec for a little bit. I like to eat two and a half hours before we head to the rink. Usually, I eat lots of fruits and other natural sugars. I also like to get in an English muffin and sometimes a few eggs. That said, I don’t like to fill up on protein at the beginning of the day. I also will bring some sweet potatoes for the rink too; I’ll eat those exactly one hour before the game. After warmups, I’ll read a few lines from a book I love: Make Your Bed. I’ll read a few lines from a part of the book I’ve been relating to recently. Then, 10 minutes before the game, I’ll go into the hall to meditate and take deep breaths.
“I found out about Northwood because of my uncle. He played at Northwood and then went on to Harvard. My mom’s side of the family has all been hockey players, so that’s also where I found hockey. My dad’s side of the family didn’t know much about hockey, so it was from my mom’s side and my uncle. As a kid, I watched a few hockey games and began to love the sport through watching. I remember my first game was a New York Rangers game. So that’s why I’m a Rangers fan.
“Advice I’d give to a student-athlete? First, I think you have to constantly communicate with your teachers to ensure you’re ahead of the game and doing well in your classes. Then, in my case, though, what I will say applies to any athlete: you have to be confident. You have to be willing to make plays and put your body on the line. Also, preparation is key. You gotta be prepared for everything. Take everything seriously: your warmup, eating healthy, and taking care of your body is a big one.”
As told to Gavin Kruger ’26.
